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Show 4- WEDNESDAY, NEWS - DIXIE SUN ECONOMY TOBACCO continued from page continued from page 1 1 most of it in savings. But you never know, something might come up, and Ill want to go on a shopping spree. Wells said that although these rebates are meant to be spent, students need to use caution when planning on how to use their Becaube it is higher in southwestern Utah than the rest of the state, its something we obviously want to make sure is addressed, Dibble said Statewide, Dibble said the Utah Department of Health has a pretty strong marketing cam- paign, including the Utah Tobacco Quit Line, rebates. and www.utah-quitnet.co- She said the local health departments are in charge of holding compliance checks, which are tests in which people under the age of 19 are sent into stores to purchase cigarettes. The purpose for these is to gauge where the state lies as far as illegal selling goes and to help educate at 2078 There are many different types of cigarettes displayed behind the counters at Maverik, located numUtah is the E. Riverside Drive. A possible reason why the tobacco rate is so high for southwest ber of people who move to the area from other states. Students interested in As far as Dixie State highest current regular users of cigarettes with attending the class proCollege students go, the last survey conducted by the Wellness Center in February 2007 showed that freshmen were the biggest current regular users of smokeless tobacco with 1.6 percent, while seniors were the lowest with 0 percent. Seniors admitted to being the retailers about underage using. There are also classes being held for retailers regarding the subject. We want them to take the preventative approach rather than the punitive approach, Dibble said. 1.9 percent. The survey also showed that the actual rate of student use was higher than the students perceived use. Students seemed to think that not many students used, whereas more admitted to using. vided by the local health department can call to register for the 986-257- 6 five-wee- k course, Mathis said. They can also go online to www.swu.health.org. The local health department is located at 620 S. and 400 East. "The worst thing that students can do is go out and run their credit cards up now hoping that the rebate will pay off their debts later," he said. "That's what the government wants everyone to do, but students need to realize it's only a onetime thing Although this rebate will arrive in U.S. households in the form of a check issued by the IRS, the payment is not a hand-ou- t from the government. The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 reflects a decision by the government to let " 19' MARCH U.S. wage earners pai less tax to the govern', ment in 2008, accordir, to www.america.gov ''y Also, businesses tax breaks to inves. in capital equipment j, part of the plan, accor-ing to the Web site. Tt ; legislation will save businesses about $50 lion in taxes through a' temporary change to the tax code that will allow businesses that buy new equipment th. year to deduct an add" tional 50 percent of their investmer in 2008, according to ' oftl-cos- t www.whitehouse.gov. This will encourage businesses to expand and create new jobs because buying new equipment, software and property this lower their taxes, according to the Web site. There are provision; to make more yea-wi- expens.-mortgage- s available through the Federal Housing Administrati;; and government spot), sored enterprises as well, according to the Web site. Post Mormon group supports those who leave LDS churc Fredonia, Ariz., left;! LDS church three After leaving the church, Ellis said he spent a lot of time fh ing alone and was depressed and confused. "I felt very relieved BY BRITTANY LISH Dixie Sun Staff Writer People who have decided to leave the Church of Jesus Christ Saints of Latter-damay feel relieved when they have an organization to lean on. Jeff Ricks founded the Post Mormon organization in 2002. Ricks was an active member of the church for 30 years. He had complete faith in the church, served a mission and was married in the temple. At age 40 he started questioning the church and made the decision to leave in y that I had managed', liberate myself from, very sheltered and bigot organization, it was difficult leavu; the thing that had always given me dm tion, Ellis said. Ellis said he receir discovered Post Mormon after seem the billboard. "I've since joined!. online community, L ing that my under- standing and 1993. I said. For nearly 10 years, his network of friends was gone. During the Winter Olympics in 2002 he found a discussion forum online for former Mormons. He followed the discussions and eventually met up with the group for a party. Ricks said during the party he felt instant rapport with everyone and was relieved to meet people with whom he could connect after so long. "I went out in my car to go home, was about to start up the engine, j I " I! y t compassuf lives." Brad Biedermann, spokesperson for the jn St. George chapter, offered advice to dents who have left t m church. He said students should take the good p things they have gamp from their religion si"1 as a healthy lifestyle p and commitment to j family with them. He also suggested Wf thoroughly studying!', of the issues facing th church from both the(Ci church's perspective well as the Post Mormon perspective "Enlightenment is painful and is mucha like going through divorce," Biedermanr said. "Be patient and allow yourself to hea and grow." If people want to lu the organization, dor tions are always acce ed. Ricks is also loot for people who have ar professional, legal Web development esi rience. St. George chapter th meetings are held first Sunday of eachth month at 2 p.m. at Holiday Inn, 850 S. Bluff St. There is also a library of books avaaP able to check out meetings. For more inform3 , tion, visit wwwpostn11 mon.org. "Perhaps the very knowledge that psl f Mormons are not p alone will ease the fering of those leavh the church," Ellis salCnc stii-- Jeff Ricks, founder of the Post Mormon Organization, stands by his seventh sign posted. Ricks's goal for this organization is to support people who have left the Mormon church. and I just broke down crying," Ricks said. "It felt so good to finally find people who . The years of feeling alone and the emotional experience at the party gave Ricks the determination to start scholarships available! Apply for the Dixie Sun 2008-0- 9 Section editors - assign stories and lay out pages Web editor stories weekly for web content. Photo editor - take and edit photos Staff writers - write 3 stories weekly in news, sports, opinion, lifestyles or arts and entertainment. Photographers - take 6 photos weekly Advertising staff - find advertisers, and design and sell ads. re-wri- te 1-- 1-- an organization to support others who have left the church. He met up with members of a support group in Ogden who 'asked him to help them start a Web site. Ricks began working on it and decided he would start a group in Logan and be a part of the Web site. He also wanted to encourage people to start groups in their area. After the groups in Logan and Ogden started, groups began in Phoenix, Seattle and Portland, then the growth of the organization plateaued. Ricks said he decided to revamp the Web site and make it more interactive with comments and discussion forums, and things began to take off. In 2005 he recruited a board of trustees in order to organize a corporation; that led to tax exempt non-prof- it Scholarship amounts range from $200 to full tuition. Experience preferred but not required in Quark Xpress and Photoshop. Contact Rhiannon Bent for more information at 652-781- 6 e sion may ease the fering of others as the Mormon church," Ellis said. 1 believe Post Mormor. greatest strength is;for care and concern people who are gomtll through painful reje: tlH tion from an organu tion they once respet ed, and the social an' political ramificatior v they experience inti T walked away from the church, my Mormon friends scattered, and I didn't know how to make friends with people who weren't Mormon," Ricks "When D Fl b or e-m- ail her at bentdixie.edu status, and donations were put toward advertising. Plans were then placed on hold for Rick's health. After a year Ricks got back to working on his organization and started receiving funds. His first large donation enabled him to post the first bill board, which was placed in Logan. The local paper printed an article about the organization, and the Associated Press picked it up so the article appeared in multiple newspapers in different states. Ricks said the impact of the article across states really got the organization popular. Post Mormon is now organized into more than 40 chapters throughout the world. There are several in Canada, four m Europe, and one each in New Zealand, Australia and Ecuador. The mission statement of Post Mormon is to provide and maintain systems that facilitate the growth and development of a safe and supportive community for those who leave or are considering leaving the Mormon church. "We are not about pulling people out of the church," Ricks said. "Leaving the church is very difficult on families. We push people back in and tell people to take their time, no hurry, and to bring their spouse along if possible." Jonathan Ellis, a junior art major from 5 ( s1 |